A service dog is a type of guide dog that has been specially and individually trained to assist people with disabilities. Also known as an assistance dog, a service dog is beneficial to people who suffer from seizures, have visual or hearing impairments, mental illnesses, diabetes, Autism, or other physical, psychiatric, sensual, and intellectual ailments. Not all dogs are capable of being a suitable service dog. Along with standardized training, an ideal service dog will have specific characteristics and possess what is known as "service dog etiquette" before they can perform service dog duties.

There are different levels to training a service dog. Service dogs can either be taught through programs and organizations that specialize in service dog training, or they can be trained by the owner him/herself. It is ideal for the dog to begin training while in the early stages of their lives--as puppies--where they can be fostered by puppy raising families (also known as "puppy walkers"). From birth to around 12 to 18 months of age, a service dog will undergo the puppy stage of training.

During this time, puppy raising foster families is responsible for making sure that the puppy interacts heavily with all kinds of people and other domestic dogs as part of an essential socialization process. The puppies will familiarize themselves with people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and who have different styles and disabilities. Basic obedience and manners that are taught to any well-behaved dog will also have to be taught to a puppy service dog, such as: waiting at doors, riding in cars, sitting, lying down, and coming when they're called. This kind of training will make the puppy much easier to be around and benefits the teachers in the subsequent advanced stage of training.

Once a service dog has successfully completed puppy training and proved that it can live up to the standardized health traits and temperament, they will be ready for advanced training. With this enhanced training, a service dog will learn how to work for people with certain disabilities. The dog will have to gain core skills (such as working efficiently, regardless of distractions, and toileting only on command), as well as particular skills that coincide with their potential owner's needs. As aforementioned, a service dog may also be fully custom-trained by its owner.

In this way, their skills will be optimized and geared specifically towards the owner's personal disabilities, which may include two or more cross-impairments. While this is beneficial to the owner, whom a service dog will be working for anyway, program-trained service dogs are beneficial as well. Because of the extensive experience that program trainers possess, they are able to better deal with the early neurological stimulation and genetics of puppies.

Whether a service dog is program-trained or owner-trained, it must still exhibit traits that will make it as helpful and easy to live with as possible. Obedience and docility are imperative in terms of maintaining maximum succes rates with a service dog in the line of duty. Additionally, being friendly and companionable makes a service dog that much more beneficial for owners who spend most, or all, of their time with them.